Insurance

Garamendi To Probe Blue Cross’ Practices

March 30, 2006  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p> California regulators said Wednesday that they would investigate accusations by 10 patients that Blue Cross has a system to retroactively cancel health coverage for members after they need expensive medical care.<br/> <br/> State...</p>

Insurance firms contribute big to Bustamante;

March 30, 2006  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>$120,000 given to candidate who would regulate the industry</h3><p class="source">THE SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE</p> <p>"Any candidate for commissioner who wants the faith of California voters and consumers has to reject all contributions and favors from the industry -- period," said Doug Heller, executive director of the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights. "There are no exceptions, there are no excuses, because contributions and gifts come with the expectations that you will not regulate," he said.</p>

Out-of-State Facility Demands Part of Stem Cell Research Royalties;

March 30, 2006  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>Move by University of Wisconsin could stifle research here. Profits from studies were supposed to be funneled into California's coffers.</h3><p class="source">Los Angeles Times</p> <p>Patient advocates and taxpayer watchdogs are insisting that the public dollars not be spent without ample public oversight -- and monetary public benefit. Californians "never intended a blank check for biotech," said John M. Simpson of the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights. "The state should hold the patents."</p>

Organizations, Health Plans and State Officials Opposed to Junk Insurance Bill: S. 1955 (Enzi, R-WY)

March 29, 2006  ·  Carmen Balber

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Sample Letter of Opposition to S. 1955 (Enzi, WY)

March 29, 2006  ·  Consumer Watchdog

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Who’s Filling the Chamber Pot?

March 28, 2006  ·  Carmen Balber

<font face="verdana,sans-serif" size="2">Papers report that the gov released his first official re-election ad yesterday, but anyone who watches television saw what looked a lot like two other Schwarzenegger campaign ads over the last...</font>

Small Business Health Plans Move Forward

March 27, 2006  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">Grand Rapids Business Journal</p> <p>"The effect of this legislation will be to deregulate the entire health insurance market," wrote consumer advocates from the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights. The watchdog group pleaded with Enzi to change provisions in his bill allowing for what the group calls "junk health care."</p>

A renewed move to boost small businesses’ health coverage

March 22, 2006  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">Scripps Howard News Service</p> <p>Even so, critics count on the power of patients'-rights advocates like Dana Christensen to make their case. The Playa del Rey, Calif., widow told senators how her husband, Doug, begged on his deathbed for a divorce because their Association Health Plan, including its chemotherapy rider, amounted to "junk" insurance that covered only18 percent of his treatment for bone cancer and saddled her with more than $450,000 of his medical bills.</p>

Health Care Pirates

March 22, 2006  ·  Jerry Flanagan

Watch the new music video and help sink the health insurance pirates. (Thank You to the Austin Lounge Lizards for their new song "Go Ahead and Die")

Illness And Injury As Contributors To Bankruptcy

March 22, 2006  ·  Jerry Flanagan

<h2>Harvard Study Finds Medical Bills Push Many Into Bankruptcy</h2> <p> Nearly half of all Americans who file for bankruptcy do so because of medical expenses, according to a new study released jointly by researchers at Harvard Law School...</p>

Cover Everyone & Save

March 22, 2006  ·  Jerry Flanagan

"If the U.S. were to shift to a system of universal coverage � the savings in administrative costs would be more than enough to offset the expense of universal coverage." <em>- Congressional Budget Office and...</em>

Why We Need Universal Health Care

March 22, 2006  ·  Jerry Flanagan

“Like it or not, if we pay $1,500 per car for health care and our cheap global competitors pay $200, that’s a disadvantage. … Another possibility is leveraging the buying power of the government, which is the biggest purchaser...